Readiness exercise simulates deployed environment

  • Published
  • By Will Huntington
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Airmen tested their ability to operate in a deployed environment during a Phase II Readiness exercise Aug. 11-12.

“The readiness exercise is important to evaluate, measure and report the ability of units to sustain wartime, contingency, or force sustainment missions,” said Wendy Larson, the 88th Air Base Wing’s inspector general.

Larson said there were two distinct evaluations: A field portion was held at the Warfighter Training Center. The second part was an evaluation of mission essential tasks specific to each participating unit.

The field portion was a “walk phase” approach to demonstrating wing readiness after COVID-19 and covered refresher training followed by evaluation of wartime common skills, she said. Those skills included chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive response actions, self-aid and buddy care, and weapons handling.
The self-aid and buddy care section covered response to wartime wounds and preparing casualties for transportation to medical treatment and care.

Senior Airman Christian Garcia, 88th Medical Group, said items covered included how to pack wounds, apply tourniquets and move patients on litters.

“I’m pretty comfortable with doing the things here, but I think this was really good training,” he said. “It is important for everyone to know this when they have to perform these duties.”

For Airman 1st Class Sabier Erazo, 88th Comptroller Squadron, the event served to invigorate the muscle memory needed for readiness.

“We get trained on CBRNE and weapons pretty regularly, so it’s just getting back into the habit of things,” he said.

The combat arms portion of the exercise was led by Tech. Sgt. Richard Thomas, 88th Security Forces Squadron, NCO in charge of Combat Arms.

“It’s very basic but it’s the basics that every Airman should know whether state-side or overseas,” he said.

Thomas and others from his duty section worked with the Airmen on weapons clearing procedures, disassembly, assembly and what he referred to as “immediate actions” or what to do if the weapon does not fire. The groups also went over procedures for receiving a weapon from an armory, loading and unloading it at a clearing barrel and then turning it back into an armory.

“It seems like everyone is clicking very well,” Thomas said. “Everyone seems happy to be here and we are happy to teach them.”

In the exercise’s second part as Airmen performed mission essential tasks at suitable locations throughout the installation, wing inspection team members observed, evaluated and provided constructive comments.

Larson said an evaluation of this type had not been conducted since the 2020 Readiness Assessment and characterized the exercise’s results.

“Both phases went well and highlighted areas that need improvement or additional training,” she said.